Love Times Four My Stepbrothers Are My Mates (Alayah) novel Chapter 23

**Chapter 23: The Infuriating Cousin**

The morning light seeped through the curtains, casting a soft glow in my room, but it was Anton’s relentless nudging that finally roused me from my slumber. He had bounded into my space a mere thirty minutes ago, practically vibrating with excitement. “You have to see this!” he had exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with a fervor that reminded me of Christmas Eve four years prior, when he had been entrusted with the honor of presenting me with Grandfather’s gift. I could still vividly recall that evening—the way he had incessantly pestered me, asking, “Is it time yet? Can we open them now?” If I had been any closer to losing my temper, I might have actually kicked him out of sheer annoyance.

Determined to shake off the remnants of sleep, I hopped into the shower, letting the warm water wash over me, invigorating my senses. Afterward, I dressed in my favorite light blue high-waisted skinny jeans, adorned with delicate red roses embroidered along the front of both legs. To complete the look, I slipped into a snug black-and-white halter top that hugged my curves, the crisp white collar adding a touch of sophistication. I finished off my ensemble with thigh-high, military-style boots that laced up with precision, each heel adding a confident four inches to my height.

“Damn, woman. You look incredible,” Anton declared the moment his gaze landed on me, his eyes shamelessly roaming over my figure. His admiration, however, earned him a swift smack on the back of his head from Uncle Paul, who, despite his gruff exterior, had a protective streak. “What? I’m a healthy young male, and I have eyes for a reason!” Anton protested, stomping down the stairs with indignation. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at his antics as I followed him, Uncle Paul muttering something under his breath beside me.

While I couldn’t catch every word, my keen hearing picked up on his comments, and I nearly choked on my laughter when I heard him mutter, “If she were my daughter, I’d send her back to her room to change. Doesn’t she realize how many heads she turns when she walks past unmated males?” The thought of being considered a distraction for the unmated males around me was amusing; my focus was solely on my Mate, not on fleeting flings.

Besides, engaging with a Pack member could only lead to heartache. The idea of hearing about my Mate’s past relationships or his conquests, should he be a notorious womanizer, was enough to make me shudder. I could only imagine the chaos it would unleash in my mind—Topaz would be a constant ball of anxiety, and I would be left to soothe her frayed nerves every single day of the week. Who could blame her for being upset?

As Uncle Paul ushered me into the dining room, I could feel the eyes of many unmated males lingering on me. It was an unsettling sensation, and I caught a few low growls emanating from our table. To my surprise, my Stepbrothers wore expressions of irritation. “Cut it out, boys. That’s just how Alayah dresses. She doesn’t even notice the males who are practically undressing her with their eyes,” Crystal interjected, her tone defensive, though I suspected it only made things worse.

Noah shot me a look that made me want to shrink into my seat. I resisted the urge, sitting tall in my chair, and caught a glimpse of Nero fidgeting uncomfortably beside me. Clearly, my choice of attire was not sitting well with my Stepbrothers. But honestly, I was a grown woman, and I had long since stopped caring about the opinions of others regarding my fashion choices.

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